Tractor front linkage quick attach coupling system
A tractor front linkage quick attach coupling system for interlocking a tractor to a tool front linkage assembly. The coupling system comprises linkage assembly anchoring arms engaging complementary tractor inclined ramps. The arms have notches engaging upper rim members and lower cam members. The cam members are movable between arms/ramps locking/unlocking conditions. A cam member release preventing safety device is provided, to prevent accidental release of the coupling system. This safety device includes sliding stops, over-center compression spring mounted connector rod members, a transverse link, a push link and a hand lever for deactivating the safety device.
Latest EQUIPEMENT VTC MFG INC. Patents:
This invention relates to a system for easy coupling of a linkage between a tractor and an operating tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA multi-purpose tractor is provided, which may be adapted to a variety of tools while optimizing performance as if a single purpose tractor and tool assembly.
In one embodiment, there is provided a tractor front linkage quick attach coupling system for interlocking a tractor to a tool front linkage assembly, the coupling system comprising: a pair of elongated anchoring arms each with a main leg and opposite ends transverse arms extending in opposite directions and each main leg carrying an intermediate external transverse stopper member, for mounting to the linkage assembly; a pair of inclined ramps for mounting to the tractor and in releasable complementary sliding engagement with respective said anchoring arms main legs, and each ramp defining rearwardly facing lower and upper notches; a pivotal rod, pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of said ramps releasably about said lower notches; a pair of rim members, anchored to said ramps and pivotally releasably engaging said upper notches; a pair of cam members, rotatably carried at opposite ends of said pivotal rod, and registering with corresponding said stopper members, and pivotable between a first locked condition, lockingly wedging with said stopper members so that said ramps and said anchoring arms become interlocked, and a second unlocked condition, clearing said stopper members so that said ramps and said anchoring arms disengage from one another.
A safety cam member release preventing device may be provided, that prevents accidental release of each said cam member from its locked said first condition with corresponding said stopper member. A hydraulic ram may also be added, defining a cylinder for mounting to the tractor adjacent said rim members and a piston rod, pivotally connected to said pivotal rod via a pivotal bracket, said ram controlling rotation of said pivotal rod and associated cam members.
In one embodiment, said safety cam member release preventing device consists of a pair of support blocks, each one carried beneath a lower portion of each of said ramps closely spaced from corresponding said cam members, a pair of sliding stops each movably mounted over each corresponding said support block, each said sliding stop including a rearwardly projecting ear, a pair of over-center compression spring mounted connecting rod members each pivotally mounted at a bottom end to a corresponding said ear and tiltable between a first limit position generally forming a V-shape with said sliding stop and corresponding to said cam member locked condition, and a second limit position generally parallel to said sliding stop and corresponding to said unlocked condition thereof, wherein said sliding stops operate as mechanical stoppers to prevent the cam members from moving toward a release position; a transverse link joining both said connecting rod members, a hand lever transversely carried at an intermediate section thereof by said transverse link and pivotally connected at a lower end thereof to one of said connecting rod members; and a push link pivotally mounted at one end to said pivotal bracket and at its opposite end to a pivot pin transversely slidingly engaging an elongated ovoidal slot made along a rear length section of said push link; wherein pull action of a free upper end portion of said hand lever from said first limit position forming a V-shape relative to said sliding stop to said second limit position parallel relative to said sliding stop enabling moving of said cam members to a release position by angularly tilting said connecting rod members and associated sliding stops away from said cam members.
Each said stopper member may be of generally triangular shape. A pair of shoulder bolts may be added, each fitted between said transverse link and a corresponding one of said connector rod members. A wear bushing may be mounted around said pivotal rod between said pivot bracket and the corresponding said cam member.
The invention also relates in another embodiment to a vehicle comprising a tractor, and a linkage assembly releasably connected to the tractor by a tractor front linkage quick attach coupling system and for connection to a front tool; said tractor defining a chassis supporting a pair of laterally opposite upwardly rearwardly inclined ramps, each of said ramps defining a lower end portion and an upper end portion, a pivotal rod rotatably mounted to said chassis beneath said ramps lower end portion, said pivotal rod defining opposite end portions each carrying a cam member rotatably mounted thereto; a pair of rim members fixedly mounted to each said ramp upper end portion; said linkage assembly having a main frame, said coupling system comprising a pair of anchoring arms upwardly projecting from said linkage assembly main frame, each of said anchoring arms having a main leg, a downwardly inclined first end portion and an upwardly inclined second end portion opposite the first end portion thereof on opposite ends of said main leg, each anchoring arm first and second end portions defining rearwardly facing first and second notches respectively, a stopper member being carried transversely outwardly of an intermediate section of each said anchoring arm main leg, each said anchoring arm main leg complementary in shape to a corresponding one of said ramps wherein each said first notch is releasably transversely engaged with a corresponding end portion of said pivotal rod and each said second notch is releasably transversely engaged with a corresponding said rim member whereby said cam members come in transverse register with a corresponding said stopper member; and each said cam member of such size and shape as to have a first unlocked condition, clearing the corresponding said stopper member and allowing disengagement of said linkage assembly from said tractor, and a rotated second locked condition upon rotation of said pivotal rod and in wedged locking engagement with said corresponding stopper member that brings about interlock of said linkage assembly with said tractor.
A safety cam member release preventing device may then be added, that prevents accidental release of each said cam member from its second said locked condition with corresponding said stopper member.
A hydraulic ram may be added, defining a cylinder fixedly mounted to said tractor chassis adjacent said rim members, and a piston rod, pivotally connected to said pivotal rod via a pivotal bracket, said ram controlling rotation of said pivotal rod and associated cam members.
Said safety cam member release preventing device may consist of a pair of support blocks, each one carried beneath a lower portion of each of said ramps closely spaced from corresponding said cam members, a pair of sliding stops each movably mounted over each corresponding said support block, each said sliding stop including a rearwardly projecting ear, a pair of over-center compression spring mounted connecting rod members each pivotally mounted at a bottom end to a corresponding said ear and tiltable between a first limit position generally forming a V-shape with said sliding stop and corresponding to said cam member second locked condition, and a second limit position generally parallel to said sliding stop and corresponding to said cam member first unlocked condition thereof, a transverse link joining both said connecting rod members, a hand lever transversely carried at an intermediate section thereof by said transverse link and pivotally connected at a lower end to one connecting rod member; and a push link pivotally mounted at one end to said pivotal bracket and at its opposite end to a pivot pin transversely engaging an elongated ovoidal slot made along a rear length section of said push link; wherein pull action of a free upper end portion of said hand lever from V-shape said first limit position relative to said sliding stop to said second parallel limit position relative to said sliding stop enabling moving of said cam members to a release position by angularly tilting said connecting rod members and associated sliding stops away from said cam members.
Each said stopper member may be of generally triangular shape. A pair of shoulder bolts may be added, each fitted between said transverse link and a corresponding one of said connector rods. A wear bushing may be mounted around said pivotal rod between said pivot bracket and the corresponding said cam member.
Tractor 30 is supported over ground by a pair of opposite wheels 36, 38, carried by a transverse wheel axle 40. Upper wings 42, 44 are provided spacedly over the wheels 36, 38, being edgewisely anchored to the fairing of the tractor main frame 52.
Hydraulic ram 46 connects by lower pivot mount 46B to a lower platform 51 from front linkage assembly 34 to the main frame 52 of tractor 30, at upper pivot mount 46A, while hydraulic rams 48, 50, interconnect pivotal bracket mounts 47, 49, on opposite lateral side portions of plow 32 with laterally offset pivotal bracket mounts 76, 78, on platform 51, for controlled lift and lateral tilt motion of the snow plow 32.
A further pair of pressure line and return line, 104, 106 interconnect a tractor hydraulic ram member 108 (detailed later) to the directional control valves assembly 69.
A shown in
As shown in
As shown in
-
- a transverse lower pivotal rod 150, sized for releasable engagement of its opposite end portions 150A, 150A, into notches 134, and mounted at the lower end portion of lower ramp section 120A;
- a pair of opposite rim members 153, 153, fixedly mounted to ramp section 120A adjacent ramp section 120B;
- ramp portion 120A may include a pair of opposite wear pad blocks (not shown), also supported by the tractor main frame 52 on its side, with these wear pad blocks extending transversely from pivotal rod end portions 150A, 150A beneath the ramp leg 120A;
- a pair of sliding stops 154, 154, slidably mounted onto wear pad blocks 152 and each forming a projecting ear 156;
- a pair of connecting rods 158, 158, pivotally mounted at 160 to ear 156 by pivot pin 161, and a compression spring 162 engaging each rod 158;
- an elongated transverse link 164 interconnecting the outer ends of each connecting rods 158, 158, opposite wear pad blocks 152, with links 164 retained to rods 158 by a shoulder bolt 166 and pivot pin 168. A wear bushing assembly (now shown) may be added to pin 168 in one embodiment.
- a pair of cams 172, 172, are rotatably carried at each of the two opposite end portions 150A of the pivot rod 150;
- a single hand lever 174 is rotatably carried at one end to the transverse link 164;
- a push link 176 is pivotally carried at one pivot end member 178 to an intermediate section of hand lever 174, and to a pivot bracket 180 mounted to pivot rod 150 spacedly from one of the cams 172 with wear bushing 182 therebetween; the push link 176 including an elongated ovoidal slot 176A extending from an intermediate section of push link to the pivot end member 178;
- a hydraulic ram 108 is pivotally carried at its piston yoke rod end 108A with a pivot mount 109 to pivot bracket 180, and at its opposite cylinder end portion to a pivotal mount member 184 with bolt 185 fixedly carried by ramp leg 120B (see e.g.
FIG. 11 ). Ram 108 extends generally parallel to push link 176 in closely spaced fashion.
A quick coupling system is thus provided for releasable coupling of the tractor supporting frame 52 to an operating tool such as a loader arm, an upright mast with forks, a snow plow 32, a snow blower, an ice breaker, and the like. The coupling is brought about by bringing the tractor 30 toward the tool 32 (arrows in
A safety cam release preventing device 200 is provided. This cam release preventing device illustrated in
In the interlocked condition of cams 172 and stopper members 138 shown in
The sliding stops 154 are used as mechanical stoppers to prevent the cams 172 from moving toward a release position. To voluntarily enable the cams 172 to move to a release position, there is provided a hand lever 174 connected to the transverse link 178. As shown in
When the sliding stops 154 are withdrawn, the operator may actuate the hydraulic ram 108 to lower the cams 172 by retracting the ram piston rod 108A (see the clockwise rotation thereof from
Claims
1. A tractor front linkage quick attach coupling system for interlocking a tractor to a tool front linkage assembly, the coupling system comprising:
- a pair of elongated anchoring arms each with a main leg and opposite ends transverse arms extending in opposite directions and each main leg carrying an intermediate external transverse stopper member, for mounting to the linkage assembly;
- a pair of inclined ramps for mounting to the tractor and in releasable complementary sliding engagement with respective said anchoring arms main legs, and each ramp defining rearwardly facing lower and upper notches;
- a pivotal rod, pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of said ramps releasably about said lower notches;
- a pair of rim members, anchored to said ramps and pivotally releasably engaging said upper notches; and
- a pair of cam members, rotatably carried at opposite ends of said pivotal rod, and registering with corresponding said stopper members, and pivotable between a first locked condition, lockingly wedging with said stopper members so that said ramps and said anchoring arms become interlocked, and a second unlocked condition, clearing said stopper members so that said ramps and said anchoring arms disengage from one another.
2. A coupling system as in claim 1, further including a safety cam member release preventing device, that prevents accidental release of each said cam member from its locked said first condition with corresponding said stopper member.
3. A coupling system as in claim 2, further including a hydraulic ram, defining a cylinder for mounting to the tractor adjacent said rim members and a piston rod, pivotally connected to said pivotal rod via a pivotal bracket, said ram controlling rotation of said pivotal rod and associated cam members.
4. A coupling system as in claim 3, wherein said safety cam member release preventing device consists of a pair of support blocks, each one carried beneath a lower portion of each of said ramps closely spaced from corresponding said cam members, a pair of sliding stops each movably mounted over each corresponding said support block, each said sliding stop including a rearwardly projecting ear, a pair of over-center compression spring mounted connecting rod members each pivotally mounted at a bottom end to a corresponding said ear and tiltable between a first limit position generally forming a V-shape with said sliding stop and corresponding to said cam member locked condition, and a second limit position generally parallel to said sliding stop and corresponding to said unlocked condition thereof, wherein said sliding stops operate as mechanical stoppers to prevent the cam members from moving toward a release position; a transverse link joining both said connecting rod members, a hand lever transversely carried at an intermediate section thereof by said transverse link and pivotally connected at a lower end thereof to one of said connecting rod members; and a push link pivotally mounted at one end to said pivotal bracket and at its opposite end to a pivot pin transversely slidingly engaging an elongated ovoidal slot made along a rear length section of said push link; wherein pull action of a free upper end portion of said hand lever from said first limit position forming a V-shape relative to said sliding stop to said second limit position parallel relative to said sliding stop enabling moving of said cam members to a release position by angularly tilting said connecting rod members and associated sliding stops away from said cam members.
5. A coupling system as in claim 4, wherein each said stopper member is of generally triangular shape.
6. A coupling system as in claim 4, further including a pair of shoulder bolts each fitted between said transverse link and a corresponding one of said connector rod members.
7. A coupling system as in claim 4, further including a wear bushing mounted around said pivotal rod between said pivot bracket and the corresponding said cam member.
8. A vehicle comprising:
- a tractor; and
- a linkage assembly releasably connected to the tractor by a tractor front linkage quick attach coupling system and for connection to a front tool, said tractor defining a chassis supporting a pair of laterally opposite upwardly rearwardly inclined ramps, each of said ramps defining a lower end portion and an upper end portion, a pivotal rod rotatably mounted to said chassis beneath said ramps lower end portion, said pivotal rod defining opposite end portions each carrying a cam member rotatably mounted thereto; a pair of rim members fixedly mounted to each said ramp upper end portion, said linkage assembly having a main frame, said coupling system comprising a pair of anchoring arms upwardly projecting from said linkage assembly main frame, each of said anchoring arms having a main leg, a downwardly inclined first end portion and an upwardly inclined second end portion opposite the first end portion thereof on opposite ends of said main leg, each anchoring arm first and second end portions defining rearwardly facing first and second notches respectively, a stopper member being carried transversely outwardly of an intermediate section of each said anchoring arm main leg, each said anchoring arm main leg complementary in shape to a corresponding one of said ramps wherein each said first notch is releasably transversely engaged with a corresponding end portion of said pivotal rod and each said second notch is releasably transversely engaged with a corresponding said rim member whereby said cam members come in transverse register with a corresponding said stopper member; and each said cam member of such size and shape as to have a first unlocked condition, clearing the corresponding said stopper member and allowing disengagement of said linkage assembly from said tractor, and a rotated second locked condition upon rotation of said pivotal rod and in wedged locking engagement with said corresponding stopper member that brings about interlock of said linkage assembly with said tractor.
9. A vehicle as in claim 8, further including a cam member release preventing device, that prevents accidental release of each said cam member from its second said locked condition with corresponding said stopper member.
10. A vehicle as in claim 9, further including a hydraulic ram, defining a cylinder fixedly mounted to said tractor chassis adjacent said rim members, and a piston rod, pivotally connected to said pivotal rod via a pivotal bracket, said ram controlling rotation of said pivotal rod and associated cam members.
11. A vehicle as in claim 10, wherein said cam member release preventing device consists of a pair of support blocks, each one carried beneath a lower portion of each of said ramps closely spaced from corresponding said cam members, a pair of sliding stops each movably mounted over each corresponding said support block, each said sliding stop including a rearwardly projecting ear, a pair of over-center compression spring mounted connecting rod members each pivotally mounted at a bottom end to a corresponding said ear and tiltable between a first limit position generally forming a V-shape with said sliding stop and corresponding to said cam member second locked condition, and a second limit position generally parallel to said sliding stop and corresponding to said cam member first unlocked condition thereof, a transverse link joining both said connecting rod members, a hand lever transversely carried at an intermediate section thereof by said transverse link and pivotally connected at a lower end to one connecting rod member; and a push link pivotally mounted at one end to said pivotal bracket and at its opposite end to a pivot pin transversely engaging an elongated ovoidal slot made along a rear length section of said push link; wherein pull action of a free upper end portion of said hand lever from V-shape said first limit position relative to said sliding stop to said second parallel limit position relative to said sliding stop enabling moving of said cam members to a release position by angularly tilting said connecting rod members and associated sliding stops away from said cam members.
12. A vehicle as in claim 11, wherein each said stopper member is of generally triangular shape.
13. A vehicle as in claim 11, further including a pair of shoulder bolts each fitted between said transverse link and a corresponding one of said connector rods.
14. A vehicle as in claim 11, further including a wear bushing mounted around said pivotal rod between said pivot bracket and the corresponding said cam member.
4202454 | May 13, 1980 | Browne et al. |
4780046 | October 25, 1988 | Friesen et al. |
5647153 | July 15, 1997 | Gervais |
5909960 | June 8, 1999 | Jager |
5915837 | June 29, 1999 | Brown et al. |
6058633 | May 9, 2000 | Barden |
6170178 | January 9, 2001 | Christy |
6830111 | December 14, 2004 | Page |
6874582 | April 5, 2005 | Hollinrake |
7146754 | December 12, 2006 | Schultz |
7562718 | July 21, 2009 | Moorman et al. |
7841110 | November 30, 2010 | Koch |
8689898 | April 8, 2014 | Benesch |
8763280 | July 1, 2014 | Fournier |
Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 2, 2016
Date of Patent: Feb 14, 2017
Assignee: EQUIPEMENT VTC MFG INC. (St-Paul-d'Abbotsford, Quebec)
Inventor: Norbert Pigeon (Ste-Madeleine)
Primary Examiner: Robert Pezzuto
Application Number: 15/255,892
International Classification: E02F 3/36 (20060101); B62D 49/06 (20060101); E02F 3/80 (20060101);